Membership Newsletter: Summer 2019
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Know Your Neighbor:
A Note from Rachel
Part of the benefit of being a Fields of Gold member is the networking opportunity with other like-minded agritourism operators in your area. Discussing similar challenges, sharing success stories, partnering on events, and promoting one another's business is not only personally rewarding, but beneficial in the growth of your own agribusiness. Take some time today to search the
Fields of Gold website
by your county or city and set goals to meet your fellow, neighboring, business owners.
Fields of Gold Farm Trail is only as successful as our ability to work together to promote the diverse and unique agricultural experiences that surround us. Let's continue to collaborate and share in this common effort.
See you on the Farm Trail!
Rachel Salatin
Agritourism Coordinator
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Help Instagram Work for You!
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- Learn about your audience through Instagram "insights"
- Don't overwhelm your audience - it is suggested to post no more than twice daily.
- Interact with your followers by tagging those who you know will enjoy the post.
- Create a hashtag that your customers can use to showcase your product and farm experience in their posts.
- Follow and re-purpose popular content from industry related accounts.
- Use popular hashtags for your industry (such as #shenvalleyfarmtrail! :)).
- Ask others to post about your business on their page.
- Experiment with Instagram stories and videos.
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Did you also know that Fields of Gold shares members posts daily? We love to see eye-catching content that showcases your unique business and products.
Fort Lewis Lodge
,
Creambrook Farm
, and
Allegheny Mountain Institute
offer great content examples for inspiration. Follow and learn what other Fields of Gold members are doing today!
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Fields of Gold
Meet & Greet
When
: September 25 from 6:00-8:00 pm
Where:
Fairfield, VA
The next Fields of Gold Meet & Greet will be held at
Fox Hill Bed & Breakfast
in Fairfield, near Lexington, VA. Although we plan Meet & Greets for each individual region, this event is open to all members, and potential members, for the purposes of networking and learning more about the Fields of Gold Farm Trail. Contact us for further details!
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Virginia is for Farmers Market Lovers
When:
November 13-15, 2019
Where
: Staunton, VA
The 7th Annual Virginia Farmers Market Conference will be held in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel.This 3-day event will have targeted workshops, dynamic speakers, a day of pre-conference sessions and fun-filled social networking events including a winery tour! There will be sessions for beginners and experienced participants alike along with an exhibit area packed with resources.
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2020 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge
American Farm Bureau is giving away over $145,000 in start-up funds to ag entrepreneurs through their 2020 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The top ten finalists will receive an all-expenses paid trip to American Farm Bureau Convention in Austin, Texas and present their business ideas live, shark-tank style, to a panel of judges and funders. Applications are due by September 30.
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Virginia Agritourism Liability Sign
This warning sign is a great addition to any agritourism business. Although it does not legally protect your business from liability, it makes visitors more aware of their rural surroundings and reminds them that many agritourism locations are working farms with potential hazards.
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Shenandoah Valley: a place with much to consume!
Walk in the footsteps of food and destination writer, Paris Wolfe, as she experiences three days of "consuming" the delicious and bountiful food of the Shenandoah Valley. Check out what Paris has to say about Fields of Gold member locations:
Polyface Farm
,
Zynodoa Restaurant
,
Wades Mill
, and
Natural Bridge State Park
in her article for The News Herald
.
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Share the Shenandoah Valley with Your Customers
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The Shenandoah Valley Tourism Partnership has created a series of promotional videos to market the Shenandoah Valley as a travel destination. The videos feature outdoor recreation, farm-to-table restaurants, wineries, breweries, agriculture, arts and cultural activities, and more. Sharing these videos with your customers is a wonderful way to promote your business and share the unique beauty and experience of the Shenandoah Valley.
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Welcome New Fields of Gold Members:
Star in the Valley Estate Winery,
Verdant Acres Farm, Woodstock Cafe, & Rockbridge Regional Fair & Expo
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Resource Articles
Virginia's Agricultural Hotspot is the Shenandoah Valley.
Read More...
Governor Northam designates May 19-25 as Virginia Agriculture Week.
Read more.
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